Standards must hit international practices

Accra, Oct. 13, GNA - Standards and Regulatory bodies have been urged to approach standardization and its related activities in an integrated manner that should be in line with international best practices.

Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, a deputy Minister of Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiative said, "A fragmented approach will not augur well for the nation's growth and development since standardization is the foundation for industrial and economic growth, hence sustainable development and good public governance".

Speaking at the 38th World Standards Day on Friday in Accra under the theme, "Standards and the Citizen: Contributing to Society" Ms.

Botchwey noted that standards affected every aspect of human life that made life easier, healthier and the world a safer place to live in. The occasion is also to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Ghana Standards Board, 50 years of Ghana's independence and 60 years of International Organization of Standardization Ms Botwe said public policies could not be developed and implemented in isolation when they impacted on trade, health, security or environment. World Standards Day is celebrated worldwide every October 14 and it is aimed raising awareness of importance of international standardization to the world economy and promotes its role in helping meet the needs of all business sectors.

The Deputy Minister of Trade expressed concern that consumer protection, environmental protection, sustainable protection of natural resources, safety at work, environmental friendliness of products and manufacturing process were becoming important in the promotion of an ecological, economical and socially sustainable development. She called on the citizenry to eschew mediocrity, insist on their rights and embrace standards for a better, safer and healthier life on the day which was to raise awareness of the importance of international standardization to the world economy and promote its role in helping meet the needs of all business sectors.

Mr Maxwell Kofi Dwumor, a deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development said the ministry would soon mount a nationwide sensitization and educational campaign on the use of bar codes for exporters in planning and execution of their export orders.

He said another campaign would also be launched in productivity improvement in which firms in small and medium sized categories would be assisted to install quality management systems in their workplaces. Mr Adu Gyamfi Darkwa, Executive Director of GSB noted that Ghana, other developing countries together and transitional economies were confronted with challenges in the areas of quality and confirmation of compliance and needed improvement in those areas.

He called for effective implementation of sustainable development and facilitation of trade that would embrace metrology, standardization and conformity assessment, which were the three pillars used by business and government for economic growth and sustainable development. Fraternal messages from other stakeholders called for the enforcement of regulations on standards for sustainable development and to ensure the safer and quality health of the people.

Nana Odeheno Gyapong Ababio II, President of National House of Chiefs who chaired the function urged GSB to intensify its efforts to enable it realise its vision of becoming the leading national standards body on the continent.